Download Copper Foil for Beginners

Copper Foil for Beginners
Design by Garden Elegance, Fabrication and Text by Dave Burnett
T
he Freedom Heart is one of
many precut kit designs from
Garden Elegance by All Cut, Inc.
The company also carries mosaic glass clusters, glass shapes, letters and numbers, borders, fusible
shapes, and suncatcher kits. The sun
catcher kits designs include a Rose,
Spectrum Glass Company
#200-9W, White for Star and Stripes, 1/2 Sq. Ft.
#152W, Red for Stripes, 1/2 Sq. Ft.
#136W, Dark Blue for Background, 1/3 Sq. Ft.
Materials Required
#16400 Freedom Heart Precut Kit
Flux Solder 7/32" Copper Foil
20-Gauge Copper Wire
Iris, Tulip, Hummingbird, and a
Butterfly panel. Suncatcher kits
have a round, oval, rectangular, or
heart shaped background. Some are
available in multiple backgrounds.
Every kit includes the precut art
glass and pattern and can be assembled like the Freedom Heart.
GLASS PATTERNS QUARTERLY/Summer 2003
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1. Removing the Glass
To keep from breaking the precut pieces of
glass, remove them from the package using an
X-acto® knife.
2. Foiling the Glass
Using the 7/32" copper foil, position the
glass in the center of the foil, wrapping the entire piece. Overlap the foil where the ends meet
about 1/8".
3. Burnishing the Foil
Use a fid or lathkin to burnish the foil. Burnishing smoothes the edges of the foil and adheres the sticky side of the copper foil tape to
the glass. Place the foiled pieces on the layout
pattern provided with the precut kit. Hold the
glass pieces in place with push pins.
4. Fluxing the Panel
Using a flux brush, apply the flux to the copper foil lines. Flux comes in a liquid or paste
form. The flux etches the copper, which allows
it to accept the solder.
5. Soldering the Panel
Tack-solder at the joints to keep the pieces
of glass from moving. Run a smooth, rounded
bead on the front and back of the heart. Tin the
outer edge of the heart.
6. Twisting the Wire
Using Morton’s Twister, twist together two
pieces of 20-guage copper wire long enough to
go around the outer edge of the heart. Tin the
twisted copper wire.
7. Reinforce the Panel
Bend the twisted wire around the outer edge
and solder to the edge. This will reinforce the
heart and give it a finished edge.
8. Soldering the Hooks
Twist the wire to make two hooks for hanging. Solder the hooks onto the back of the heart
in the design lines.
Clean the project with warm soapy water and
flux remover. Patina can be applied in either
black or copper. This project was left silver, the
color of the solder. Using a glass wax will give
a shine to the glass and the solder and prevent
oxidation. Attach a silver chain to the hooks and
GPQ
hang as a suncatcher.
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GLASS PATTERNS QUARTERLY/Summer 2003
Copper Foil for Beginners
When working with glass and solder always
work in a well-ventilated area, wear eye protection, and keep a clean work surface.
Freedom Heart
Design by Garden Elegance
Compliments of:
GLASS PATTERNS
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www.GlassPatterns.com